Sen. Patrick Joyce

Amends the State Fire Marshal Act. Establishes, subject to appropriation, the Division of Certified Youth Firesetter Interventionists within the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Provides that the Division shall consist of certified youth firesetter interventionists who conduct youth firesetter interventions when local authorities cannot do so on their own or when multiple local authorities in separate jurisdictions are involved. Describes the duties of the Division. Contains other provisions.

Amends the Illinois State Police Act. Provides that the collegiate educational requirements for being appointed an Illinois State Police officer are met if the person: (1) has been honorably discharged by the United States Armed Forces and has been awarded the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), or Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal, in addition to other specified medals; or (2) is an active member of the Illinois National Guard or a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces and who has been awarded the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), or Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal, in addition to other specified medals, as a result of honorable service during deployment on active duty. Provides that the collegiate educational requirements are satisfied by having at least 3 years of full active and continuous United States Armed Forces (rather than military) duty, which shall also include a period of active duty with the State of Illinois under Title 10 or Title 32 of the United States Code pursuant to an order of the President or the Governor of the State of Illinois, and receiving an honorable discharge before hiring.

Amends the Public-Private Agreements for the South Suburban Airport Act. Defines cargo-oriented development as the development of places that are both multimodal nodes of freight transportation and centers of employment in logistics and manufacturing businesses. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall (instead of may) establish a process for prequalification of offerors. Requires the Department to commence the prequalification process within 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Makes changes to legislative findings.

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that school districts shall provide instruction on the dangers of fentanyl. Specifies the elements of the instruction. Provides that students shall be assessed on the fentanyl instruction.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that there shall be created a low-income community hydropower pilot project program. Provides that under this program, persons shall propose pilot community hydropower projects. Provides that community hydropower projects proposed may exceed 2,000 kilowatts in nameplate capacity, and the amount paid per project under this program may not exceed $20,000,000. Provides that pilot projects must result in economic benefits for the members of the community in which the project will be located. Provides that the proposed pilot project must include a partnership with at least one community-based organization. Provides that approved pilot projects shall be competitively bid by the Illinois Power Agency, subject to fair and equitable guidelines developed by the Agency. Provides that contracts entered into under this program may be entered into with an entity that will develop and administer the program or with developers and shall also include contracts for renewable energy credits related to the program. Provides that a project proposed by a utility shall not be included in the utility's rate base. Makes corresponding changes to the Act and the Public Utilities Act.

Amends the Fire Department Promotion Act. Modifies the definition of "affected department" for purposes of the Act to include a fire department operated by a municipality with a population over 1,000,000.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that any person convicted of violating provisions related to approaching, overtaking, or passing a school bus, or similar provisions of a local ordinance, shall be subject to a mandatory fine of $500 (rather than $300) for a first violation. Provides that a person who observes a violation related to approaching, overtaking, or passing a school bus or making contact with a stopped school bus may file a written or oral complaint with the county sheriff's office, and at the sheriff's discretion, the report may be transferred to the Illinois State Police or municipal police department. Requires the report to be investigated by a peace officer, and the investigating officer to contact the reporting party within 30 days to provide an update on the status or outcome of the investigation. Requires that no later than July 1, 2024, a school bus must be equipped with an extended stop arm that partially obstructs the roadway if the school bus has a route that includes a bus stop which requires a school child to cross a roadway. Establishes that each extended stop arm must be equipped with additional flashing red lights. Provides that the side extension arm must be capable of extending up to 72 inches, measured from the side of the bus to the furthest part of the extension arm, and at a height not less than 36 inches from the ground. Provides that the rear extension arm must meet the same specification as the side extension arm, except that it may not extend more than 32 inches from the side of the school bus. Prohibits a driver of a motor vehicle from making contact with any portion of a stopped school bus or with a school child within 30 feet of the school bus, and the violation of such is a misdemeanor and punishable by a fine of not more than $500. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that an Illinois licensed new or used motor vehicle dealer is authorized to conduct sales activities, including the collection of electronic signatures, via the Internet and deliver vehicles to a customer at the customer's residence or other suitable location, if the sale, lease, or delivery is requested by the customer. Provides that any documents that State or federal law require to be signed in person may be signed at the time of delivery without constituting an off site sale that is subject to the permit requirements for off site sales.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that in a county having a population of 3,000,000 or more, the county sheriff shall establish with other law enforcement agencies a vehicle theft hotline to facilitate the location of stolen vehicles via their installed existing global positioning systems, collaborate with vehicle manufacturers and dealers to provide information and assistance to law enforcement officers in the investigation of vehicle theft, and ensure that consumers are provided with information concerning the hotline and any new or used vehicle manufactured with a global positioning system by publishing the information in a conspicuous location on the county sheriff's website. Provides that the manufacturer of any vehicle sold in this State shall establish a hotline available to State, county, and local law enforcement agencies exclusively for the purposes of law enforcement information sharing and the electronic tracking of vehicles stolen in vehicular hijacking incidents or that have been used in the commission of kidnapping, aggravated battery with a firearm, attempted homicide, or homicide. Provides that the manufacturer's hotline shall relay vehicle location information, including real-time vehicle location information whenever possible, to the 9-1-1 call center or designated dispatch center for the responding agency, to the best of the manufacturer's technical capability. Requires State, county, and local law enforcement agencies to use their respective 9-1-1 system call centers or designated dispatch centers for the purpose of verification of law enforcement officers' identities and bona fide incident report numbers related to incidents. Requires manufacturers to prepare written statements detailing tracking and disabling system capabilities and make them available to State, county, and local law enforcement agencies upon request. Requires that, if a vehicle is not subscribed to the manufacturer's tracking service, the manufacturer of any vehicle sold in this State shall waive all fees associated with initiating, renewing, reestablishing, or maintaining the location, disabling, or alert service with which the vehicle is equipped during a law enforcement response or investigation of specified offenses.

Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging and the Illinois Public Aid Code by changing all references to the Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to the Office of the Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Amends the Illinois False Claims Act. Removes references to the Illinois State Police from the definition of "investigator". Provides that the Attorney General (rather than the Attorney General or the Illinois State Police) shall diligently investigate a civil violation for false claims under the Act. Provides that the Attorney General may issue subpoenas under the Act (rather than the Attorney General may delegate the authority to issue subpoenas under the Act to the Department of State Police). In provisions concerning the State Whistleblower Reward and Protection Fund, provides that for all cases settled on or after October 1, 2023, one-third of the monies shall be paid to the Attorney General Whistleblower Reward and Protection Fund. Provides that the remaining two-thirds of the monies in the Fund shall be used for payment of awards to Qui Tam plaintiffs and as otherwise specified in this Act, with any remainder to the General Revenue Fund. Provides that the Attorney General shall direct the State Treasurer to make disbursement of funds. Effective immediately.